Writing Exercise 22: Building a World

This exercise is an approach to imagining a world which starts from one individual and works outward. It can be used in a setting that is historical or present day but is more  usually associated with sci-fi, fantasy or speculative fiction. There’s no reason why poets or script-writers shouldn’t use it too.

Stage 1.
Think of a character in another time and place. This will work well if it’s a time and place you are inventing. If it’s a distant place or a historical time (or the present day) this may require quite a lot of research.
Quickly, without stopping to think too much, write down answers to the following questions:
- what is the character wearing? 
- what is the character holding?
- where does the character live?
- does the character live alone or with others?
- what is the character’s favourite food?
- how does the character travel?

Stage 2.
Look back at your answers. Every answer leads to further questions. For example, when you consider what the character is wearing, ask what is it made of. Wool adds sheep (or similar animals) to the landscape. Synthetic fabrics are still made out of something. Ask who made the character’s clothes and whether the various elements had to be bought. If they were bought, who bought them and how were they purchased? What did they cost?
Write down a set of at least five questions about each of your answers to the questions in Stage 1.

Stage 3.
You now have at least thirty questions to answer - and some of your answers will set off further questions. Write down your answers to the questions in stage 2 as well as any further questions they suggest. For example, if the clothes were made of wool, where are the sheep or similar animals? Who owns the animals and who looks after them?

Stage 4.
Look back over the answers you have given. What do they tell you about the world you have begun to build? They probably tell you something about the landscape, industry, economics and power relations of that world. What do people in that world take for granted? What worries them? What dangers do they face?

Stage 5.
Now think about two or three people who have different roles in that world. They don’t have to include the character you first thought of but you may include them if you like. What story might be told about these characters in this world? Begin to plan it.

Take the story as far as you like.

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